Chapter 2:

Summary: Haley surprises Nathan. Feedback appreciated !!

Nathan started to think that this was a bad idea. After one tutoring session with Haley, he felt like smashing her face to the wall. She completely brushed off his advances. He even took the time to go to Starbucks and get her coffee but she didn't even take a sip, something about not wanting to stunt her growth. He wanted to stunt her alright. Normally, handing a drink to a girl was more than enough with other girls, but Nathan soon realized that Haley James was not just any other girl.

Nathan had to give it to Haley, she was pretty stubborn, which made her good tutor. Eventually he gave up trying to distract her and actually do work and she explained things pretty well. When he made a stupid mistake and Haley pointed it out to him, he was half surprised that she didn't make fun of him or belittle him. He was used to it from his dad, so it was actually a good change of pace to make a mistake and not be criticized for it. It felt good and in some small way, liberating. He wondered what other tricks Haley had up her sleeve.

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Haley wondered why she would subject herself through this again. It wasn't exactly the same situation but traits were there, her and a hot shot over confident basketball star. She wondered what ever happened to Damien West after he moved out of town. It was just her luck to get stuck with Nathan Scott, the evil half brother of her best friend.

He was cocky and completely self centered, something Haley braced herself for. Like bringing coffee and flashing those dimples would make her budge. She wasn't going to let Nathan smooth talk his out of doing his own work. It would be easier if he was fat and ugly, but he was the exact opposite. Dark hair, blue eyes, and bulging biceps, she sighed to herself. Why do all the jerks have to be the cute ones she asked herself.

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Nathan slammed his fist to the table "Forget this," he said. "I'm never going to get it."

"Nathan, it's ok, you're just making stupid mistakes… believe me, you have to be careful when you're carrying over these negative numbers, they can completely screw up your calculations .. you got the steps down but you're just working too fast.. what I like to do is after I'm done with everything, to just go back and make sure I carried all the negative numbers, so in case you mess up, you already have all the steps written out so its just a quick plug in to your calculator."

Nathan did as he was told and sure enough, he caught a stupid mistake and easily corrected it. He smiled when he got the problem right.

"I hate to say I told you so."

"I feel such an idiot."

"You're not an idiot, you just need to double check, believe me I have to do that all time on tests."

"Maybe, you need to tutor my dad too."

"Why, is he taking pre-cal too?"

"Tutor him with common etiquette…I make one little mistake on the court and he's all over me .. sometimes its just good to make mistakes and not be made into looking like a fool."

"Nathan Scott, a mistake on the court?" She said sarcastically.

"It has been known to happen." Nathan said with a mix of sarcasm and underlying frustration he felt for his dad, which Haley picked up on.

"I'm sorry you get such a hard time from your dad." Haley said genuinely. The comment had taken him off guard and even broke out a small smile. Never was he so frank and honest about his dad and never did one ever truly got him. Peyton often commented on what an ass Dan was, but Nathan didn't say anything back and sometimes would even defend his dad. Peyton didn't get it, but in that one moment Haley understood. And that made him feel good and it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and all he could do was smile back.

To Be Continued …